well this is the earliest i have made a post but i know people are wondering about the doctor.
there was no doctor today. last night as i was lying in bed and my mom was talking to me i started vomiting again. not fun to do late at night. i was up almost all night not feeling well. i did get up this morning to try to get ready but my body just wasn't having it. i was so upset but called the doctor's office to cancel. the worst thought was running through my mind..."i won't be able to start treatment on Monday" but even though that was running through my mind i couldn't get my body out of bed and away from the pink bucket.
finally at 9:15, beth the pa called. she has been so nice to us this entire time. she said that is was alright i didn't make it in. i am still scheduled to start treatment on monday, check in at 8:30am. what a relief that was to me! she said that the vomiting is a most likely left over from the chemo especially since i'm losing all my hair now too. she said i had a later reaction than most people. (go figure, my body has done everything differently under this, but who cares as long as it kills the cancer)
she called in a much stronger prescription for nausea and i am also to continue taking what i have. my mom is at cvs picking it up right now. i am praying that i do not vomit while she is gone. it wasn't good before she left. i did not know it was even possible to feel so horrible!
seriously, last january during interferon i thought i couldn't feel any worse. then radiation came along and i lost all of my taste within a week so i couldn't eat, i felt like i was going to vomit the entire time (never did though), and was so weak. now i am down at duke doing a chemo switch and i'm sicker than a dog. heck during treatment i have memory problems. due to how strong this chemo is i hope and pray it is killing everything. i have never in my life felt so sick. it is unreal the feeling i have each day. it's hard to believe i can actually feel like i'm dying while fighting for my life. but i know that is the point of this stuff so i keep going. my hope is that i am so sick because the chemo is working in my benefit.
so i am scheduled for treatment and she said today that i will probably still need a blood transfusion but it can be done next week while i'm having treatment. to me that works out great. i was probably going to have to go for 4-5 hours tomorrow but now i will just be at the hospital. works out nicely i think.
on a positive note: my dad called this morning and i am in the akron beacon journal today. thanks to chamber! ryan is going out to get it. so that is fun. read it if you get a chance:)
hope you all have a nice day!
love,
ellen
29 comments:
I was looking for the article online--for those of us far away! So far no luck. If I end up finding it, I'll post the link/text.
Love you!
Angie
Hey Ellen,
We are all praying for ya! Keep strong and keep that positive attitude! Love to ya, Your pals, Maria, Karen, Kim & Liz
Hey Ellen,
Can't wait to go out and pick up the Beacon....I am so glad to know you will be starting the treatment on Monday, you will be in great hands in the hospital. Although you are in good hands now with your Mother and Ryan. I had the change to talk to your Mom for a few minutes this AM, make sure you get the hug and kiss I sent via the phone.
Keep your spirts up, I know it must be hard but that is part of this battle...you are strong and you have tons of people who love you and are praying for you to return home soon.
Take Care & Love ya Lots,
Jo Ann
Hang in there Ellen, I'm sure thats easier said than done! You are in my thoughts and prayers everyday...I hope the new medicine will help your stomach and treatment next week will be over before you know it. Tell your mom hello from me. Love to you all! Cindy
Hi El,
I know you are feeling terrible, and as you said, have probably never, ever felt worse. BUT, you are right, this is the reaction your body is having, to kickin' this cancers ass. Throwing up isnt ideal, can't stand it myself, but everytime you do, just think of it as you throwing up all of the nasty, nasty cancer!
You are determined! You WILL beat this. Keep up that great attitude that you have. It really keeps pushing you along!
I've said it many times and I'll say it again, you are truly an amazing person, and an inspiration to everyone. I, personally, have had a whole new outlook on things that people take for granted daily. Im sure you have an appreciation for much more than you ever thought possible either.
You'll be that matron of honor someday!! :)
Lots and lots of love and prayers, as always!
Jaime
Ell,
Sorry to hear you are still feeling so sick...I am sure it is all a reaction from the chemo since you have just now begun to lose your hair also. It is unfortunate that you don't feel 100% when you are off the chemo, but I hope when this is all over you will feel 100% and look back and realize how strong you really are. I am going to look online for the article and wishing you a day filled with good thoughts!!!
love ya
Kelly Dragoiu
Hey ell,
one last thing, do you know the title of the article or where it is in the paper? I tried to search online and could not find it either. if you can provide more info, i would love to read it!
kelly dragoiu
Sorry to hear you are not feeling better yet. Hope the new meds help with that. So glad to hear that you are still scheduled for Monday.
Let's hope that those bad cells are feeling a million times worse than you and that everything is working the way it is supposed to.
Thinking about you, and heading out to look for the Beacon!
Jen
Ok, I found it! Well I went to the store and bought it and then looked the article up online, but here it is.
http://www.ohio.com/news/9304411.html?page=2&c=y
If that does not get you there, go to the Akron Beacon site and search for girl cellist. That is the article, and the important part to us is under Sharing the festival.
Jen
Hi! Ellen,
It's Darlene Swiatkowski from Hickory Harvest Foods in Akron. I've been reading your messages almost daily and think of you so often. You are in my thougths and prayers. I can only tell you I relive alot of what you are going though. Just keep on FIGHTING. Your a sweet,sweet person and I have every confidence this will work out. Remember the Lord says "there where you are praying in a group, I am there also". God Bless you Ellen!!!
Hi El - I'm so sorry you are feeling so sick!! Throwing up is never fun - you know me, I would rather stand on my head for three days than throw up! I will pray tonight that your new medicine works and there will be no more of that!! I hope you get a much better sleep tonight. Love and miss you!
love always, Ashley
HERE'S THE ARTICLE ABOUT ELLEN
Sharing the festival
Far away. But not alone.
That was the message those attending North Canton's ''Main Street Festival'' last weekend were eager to convey to super citizen Ellen Deitemeyer Gray.
Gray, a member of the North Canton Area Chamber of Commerce board and co-chairman of the festival, is hospitalized at Duke University Medical Center, battling advanced melanoma.
So, friends of the festival decided to bring the party via a prominently placed webcam to Gray, 29.
Chamber President Cathy Dunlap said the webcam was mounted on a tree near City Hall. ''Whenever we saw the camera move, we knew she was watching . . . She worked so hard, even while battling cancer, on the festival and wanted so much to be here.''
The camera allowed friends back home to communicate with and wave to Gray.
Gray's husband, Ryan, gets the credit with the successful installation of the webcam at Duke.
Laurie Kindy from North Canton TV & Appliance and her husband, Matt Kolarik, set up the webcam at the festival.
According to Dunlap, 20,000 folks attended the event.
After receiving her unsettling diagnosis, Gray and her husband were still thinking about how they could help others. So, they created a business called ''An Artful Life,'' featuring paintings she does during her convalescence. Half of all proceeds from their sale go to the North Canton Medical Foundation to help patients struggling with bills, etc.
The chamber also is selling note cards for the same cause.
I can certainly understand why all who know Ellen Gray call her ''amazing.''
Even when she's battling for her own life, she's continuing to pour her energy into helping others in need.
YOU GO GIRL! -- Angie
Hi Ellen-
Sorry I haven't written much sooner. I pray for you every time I look at my bracelet...
I'm sure you heard a lot about MSF- the good and the bad. We sure missed you.
Ell,
Great article. Thank you to Jenny for finding it. We were looking all over for it and so glad Jenny provided the web address for it. Hope you are feeling a little better than you did earlier and hope the article makes you smile...
kelly dragoiu
Hi Ellen!!!
So sorry to hear that you haven;t been feeling the best these past few days. I am glad that treatment will start as scheduled. Keep your spirits up. The article was awesome! I will send it to you so you can have it! Your dad was telling me about the webcam that they had set up and that you could control. Im sure it was neat to see what was going on back in NC. Think about you all the time- you are truely and inspiration to all of us. Tell you mom hello.
Love,
Kelly Kase
Ellen,
I am so amazed that with how sick you feel that you can say to us all "have a good day". How sweet you are to say that. We wish that for you and hope the meds help your nausea. Stay strong Ellen, keep fighting, we are praying extra hard for you!
Louann Smith
Hey Ellen,
I am so sorry that you are feeling so awful. Just know that it is the chemo doing its job. Hang in there. I am praying for you.
Love,
Amy
Ellen,
Your army is behind you. Sorry
about how sick you are. You are
in great hands with Suze. She is
a really good companion. Hopefully
this new medicine will help you to
feel better. I can't wait to read
the article about but I think some-
one posted on the blog so maybe I
will read that. We are all so
positive and praying hard for you.
Say Hi to Suze. Love you guys,
JoAnn G
I think I missed a word or two up
above but I have been doing that all day. Even when I talk!!!
Hey Ell -
That is a really sweet article. You're a celebrity! :-)
So glad to hear that you're still able to start treatment Monday, and even get the blood transfusion at the same time. The hospital should know by now how popular you are - they'd better give you a bigger room! Like one of the corner ones, with a nice view of the chapel. ;-)
Hope you have a better night's sleep tonight! Just remember - it's the chemo working.
Much love,
Ams
You can do this Ellen. If there was ANYTHING I could do for you, I'd do it this second. Praying and sending my best your way, Sommer
My heart aches for you ..but you have to be the strong one. If we could, everyone would take some of your sickness and spread it around so it would be so minute. Stay srong and get through these worst times to look forward to the best times. Suzie , you are so blessed to have a daughter like Ellen, Ellen you are so blessed to have a mother like Suzie. And you are both blessed to have Ryan by your side. Sending thoughts and prayers always. Linda O
Ellen,
Sorry to hear you're feeling so bad. However, I agree with everyone else and it has to be because the chemo is working and killing all of the cancer cells. I know I've said this before but you are an amazing person. Continue to stay positive and know that we are praying for you.
Love, Krickett
Hi Ellen! Hang in there! We're all pulling for you! I remember reading Lance Armstrong's book and he went through what you're going through. Stay positive and you'll get through this with all the loving support at your side and all of your friends pulling for you. Give your Mom a hug from us! Love, Elly
Hi Ellen, Thanking God you have stronger medicine for your nausea, and thankful that your pa was willing to let the apptmt slide and all is a go for next week. You were so kind to gather the strength to send word out to all of us waiting to hear how things are going. Take care, Love Aunt Connie and the fam
Thinking of you often and hoping that you gain strength from all of the love and support that everyone is sending you to get through your next round of treatment.
Good idea that Ryan is going to stay with you through the treatment, I think just as much for him as for you. Keeping you guys in my thoughts and prayers.
Take care,
Mickie
Ellen: I wish I could take some of your pain away. You don't deserve it. But, you are so strong and courageous and I know you will look back on this one day soon and celebrate being cancer free. May God continue to bless you and Ryan and keep you under his protection. Love to you both, Anna Hillhouse
I read the article. You are wonderful......even if your head is in a pink bucket. Sorry you are feeling so lousy right now. We keep thinking about you and praying for you daily.
Hey "E",
Get those meds working so you can beat that SOB cancer. Hey what's up with the wheelies? Slow down speed racer! We miss you and think about you daily. Remember, PMA, keep fighting and we are in your corner. You are a good man Ryan! AS always, Rich
Post a Comment